Please to Kitsune-sama!

Chapter 215 : Kitsune-sama Heads to Echigo Trading Company

The headquarters of the clan “Echigo Trading Company” was located in Chūō Ward. One of the buildings not far from the old Tokyo Station was entirely occupied as the Echigo Trading Company’s headquarters, and the sale of all kinds of goods, regardless of category, was the face of Echigo Trading Company as an awakener corporation.

Because of that, Echigo Trading Company’s clan members were assembled not on the basis of combat ability, but on salesmanship and similar skills, with relatively few combat personnel. Well, it was just a matter of what to prioritize, and there was no shortage of awakener corporations of this so-called “Echigo Trading Company style.”

However, to have risen to the position of being counted among the Ten Great Clans on the strength of their awakener corporation activities alone was undeniably the true capability of Echigo Trading Company… achieved through the skills of Echigo Yaeka’s father, the first clan master, and by Yaeka herself as the second.

“Hmm… and what is her father doing now?”

“I hear he died in a dungeon. Honestly, looking at the present circumstances, it feels rather suspicious.”

“Haa, how unpleasant. Being shown mankind’s worst sides in succession is enough to dampen one’s spirits.”

“I’m sorry about this…”

“Oho, oho. Eru bears no blame whatsoever, so pay it no mind.”

As Inari was stroking Eru, Yasuno watched with a thought of “They really get along well, don’t they…” but this was simply how Inari always was. Setting that aside, the car arrived in front of the Echigo Trading Company building, with Yasuno leading and Inari and Eru following. Naturally, as they approached the main entrance, the guards moved into position, but when they saw the card hanging from Yasuno’s chest — proof that she was a member of the Awakener Association — they let out a startled “Uhh.” Yasuno displayed the card with composure.

The special design, with a thick silver line above the name, was proof of being an Awakener Association staff member. To not know this was a disqualification not only as an awakener, but especially as a guard. And since this guard was not disqualified, his obvious flinch said it all.

“I am Yasuno of the Awakener Association, Japan Headquarters. We have an appointment, so please notify the appropriate party.”

“Y-yes! Please wait just a moment!”

As the guard quickly began making contact somewhere, Inari glanced sideways and whispered to Yasuno.

“…He seems normal enough to mine eyes. Is there truly something peculiar at play here?”

“If even the guards had turned into hoodlums, then we’d be talking about a full takeover.”

While they whispered, a burly man approached and bowed politely.

“Ms. Yasuno of the Awakener Association, Ms. Kogami, and Ms. Kotoriya. I am Kurabayashi, secretary to the acting master. I will escort you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

He looked more like a bodyguard than a secretary, though perhaps he was both. Pointing that out would be rude, so Yasuno pressed her lips shut.

“You’ve quite an impressive physique. Do you train?”

“Yes. It’s necessary for a secretary.”

“I see, I see.”

“Uwaah, he said that without hesitation!? And what kind of muscles are ‘necessary’ for a secretary!?”

Yasuno grumbled inwardly, but the exchange revealed something important: Kurabayashi could respond smoothly to sudden remarks. If he were merely some thug claiming to be a secretary, this is where his act would crack. But that wasn’t the case. Well, there was still the possibility that he was a thug with the wit to play along, though.

“Here, please take this. A visitor’s card. You must wear it at all times.”

Escorted by Kurabayashi, Yasuno kept her gaze moving across the surroundings. The Echigo Trading Company headquarters, devoted almost entirely to its function as a “trading house,” looked every bit like a typical office building. As far as Yasuno could tell, there was nothing suspicious… or at least nothing that stood out. Well, if something blatantly suspicious was in plain sight, that would be idiotic.

“Hmm…”

Meanwhile, Inari’s eyes seemed to fix on something Yasuno couldn’t perceive. Kurabayashi noticed and asked, “Is something the matter?”

“No, ’tis simply that such places are a first for me.”

“I see. Please understand there are many confidential matters here that we cannot explain.”

“That is no concern.”

When they entered the elevator, Inari let out a strange “Umm…” sound. Her tail puffed up, her ears stood ramrod straight — there was no hiding it. Elevators were still her weakness, but since this wasn’t the enormous one at Japan Headquarters, she managed to endure.

The elevator stopped on a high floor… the 27th. Led to the second conference room, where rows of meeting rooms lay, Inari and her companions were immediately struck by hostile glares from the people inside. It was plain they weren’t welcome. Among them, two men in particular were directing especially sharp hostility — likely the candidates in question. Yasuno noticed that Inari had already moved to shield Eru… though since Eru was taller, she wasn’t really hidden.

“…So that child is the so-called new candidate? Stop dreaming above your station and go home.”

“No, wait. First, we’ll have her sign a pledge not to get involved in the succession struggle.”

“Hey, you two…”

Yasuno began to interject, but fell silent when she saw Inari step forward. “Ah, she’s angry,” she realized.

“A pleasure to make thine acquaintance. I am Kogami Inari.”

“Hah? Nobody asked your name. Can’t you read the room?”

“Children these days, that’s what they’re like. They don’t know the sin of stealing adults’ time.”

Hearing such unbearably “adult-like” words, Inari’s expression curled into the shape of a smile.

The “shape” of a smile. Yes—but it was no smile at all. For she was not smiling in the least.

“The ‘adults’ and the ‘reading the room’ ye prattle of… seem far too childish to mine ears.”

“What did you say!? You lot, always wasting—”

“Silence. If all that spills from thy mouth is filth, then better thou close it and bow thy head instead.”

Everyone present—save for Yasuno and Eru—suddenly felt as though the room’s temperature had plunged. The one who collapsed to his knees, unable to withstand it, was Kurabayashi, who had been near Inari. A police baton for awakeners slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.